AN OLYMPIC flame torchbearer has accused Birmingham’s leaders of wrecking the city’s Olympic legacy with plans to tear down a leisure centre.

Pritesh Pattni was among dozens of protesters who took their fight to save Aston Arena to the doors of the Council House yesterday.

The city council wants to demolish the venue to make way for a manufacturing park, the first phase of which would create at least 1,500 jobs.

But Mr Pattni, the chairman of Aston-based community charity Bidgley Power, said the plan flew in the face of the “Inspire a Generation” motto of the London Games.

He spoke out less than two months after he carried the Olympic flame through Wolverhampton in recognition of his 25 years of voluntary service to badminton and other sports.

“The council will be throwing away the chance to have an Olympic legacy,” he said. “The centre means a lot to the community.

“We need to save this facility for our kids. Nobody else is going to do this. We, as a community, need to work together to save the Arena.”

Protesters held aloft placards which read “Shame on Birmingham City Council” and “Save Aston Arena”.

The centre plays host to a number of sports clubs and, in its heyday as the Aston Villa Leisure Centre, the 4,000-capacity venue hosted a string of pop and rock acts, including Paul Weller, Pulp, Morrisey and Nirvana.

The venue has also staged historic political rallies, playing host to the late Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto in 1999.

Euro MP Nikki Sinclaire has also come out against the plans.

“The people of Aston do not want this site removed,” she said. “We cannot let a facility like this be bulldozed into history.”

A council spokesman said: “Phase one of this initiative will create 1,500 much-needed jobs and includes the land that is currently occupied by Aston Arena – which has been earmarked for demolition for seven years as the scheme has been progressed.

“We are working with groups who use Aston Arena to relocate them within the area.”